Ukraine 2016 100 Years of the Fire Truck in Ukraine 5 Hryvnia Coin

Description:

The Ukrainian 100 Years of the Fire Truck in Ukraine 5 hryvnia coin does double duty as a commemorative coin. First, it celebrates the technological accomplishments that went into the development of the modern fire truck. And second, it honors the men and women who risk their lives every day to protect Ukrainian citizens from physical and material harm.

After a couple attempts at creating a business and running an automotive factory, notable German inventor and automobile engineer Karl Friedrich Benz founded Benz & Company Rheinische Gasmotoren-Fabrik (Benz & Cie.) in 1883 with two bicycle repair shop owners. In 1886, he received a patent for his Benz Patent Motorwagen. Later versions refined the historic motorcar, and in 1888 Model 3 went on sale as the first commercially-available automobile.

By the end of the 19th century, Benz & Cie. was the biggest automobile company on the planet.

In the early part of the 20th century, the company modified its truck design and created the first buses. It was one of these buses, produced in the German city of Gaggenau, that was originally adapted to serve as a fire truck in Kiev. And much like the Benz Patent Motorwagen, fire trucks continued to evolve over time, as the methods and technology of firefighting were improved.

The coin is designed by Demianenko Volodymyr and is made of “Alpaca Silver”: an alloy of nickel and copper that may also include zinc. The term is most commonly used in Central and South America, but Alpaca is better known as German Silver or Nickel Silver in other parts of the world.

Obverse:

The inscription “України” (Ukraine) curves along the rim at the top of the coin. Beneath it is a central design consisting of a fire helmet superimposed over an axe on the left and a wrench on the right. The axe and wrench are crossed behind the helmet and are themselves superimposed over two coils of hose in the background. Two fire hose nozzles protrude from either side of the helmet.

The face value of 5 гривень (5 Hryvnia) is inscribed along the bottom rim under the main motif. Between “України” and the firefighting equipment is the State Emblem of Ukraine, a stylized trident. On the left side of the obverse, next to and under the fire hose, is the year 2016. A logotype representing the Mint of the National Bank of the Ukraine is similarly situated on the right.

Reverse:

An early Ukrainian fire truck is colorfully rendered in red, yellow, orange and black using a special pad printing technique. The inscription ПОЖЕЖНИЙ АВТОМОБІЛЬ (“Fire Trucks”) is found above, while an almost arabesque 100/РОКІВ (“100 Years”) is located below. Directly beneath the fire truck and behind the inscription “100 Years” are three lines and a design that vaguely resembles pinstriping.

Designer(s):Artist and sculptor Demianenko Volodymyr is responsible for over 70 commemorative coin designs produced by the National Bank of Ukraine since 1998.